SEC offense falls by wayside

In Tennessee's search for a competent offense, the Vols can at least find consolation. They're not alone.Half the teams in the SEC are struggling offensively. And most of those struggles are related to uncertainty at quarterback.Tennessee is the latest SEC team to contemplate a quarterback change. Starter Jonathan Crompton supposedly has to outperform backup Nick Stephens in practice this week to hold his job.Other SEC teams already have made changes. And South Carolina is on the verge of another one.The Gamecocks might start their third different quarterback Saturday against Ole Miss. Redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia could succeed Chris Smelley, who succeeded Tommy Beecher.Auburn started Kodi Burns in the season opener but switched to Chris Todd a week later. When Todd faltered against UT, coach Tommy Tuberville turned to Burns again.Although Auburn can't decide on its quarterback, it decided who would start for LSU. The Tigers were rotating Andrew Hatch and Jarrett Lee until Auburn knocked Hatch out of the game. Based on how Lee has performed, Auburn did LSU a favor.Mississippi State began the season with quarterback Wesley Carroll but changed to Tyson Lee last week against LSU. His production against one of the nation's premier defenses -- 17 of 26 completions for 175 yards -- should keep him No. 1 for at least another game.Mike Hartline has started every game for Kentucky. But freshman Randall Cobb was challenging for the job before suffering an ankle injury.Instability at quarterback isn't the sole reason for the offensive difficulties. Part of the problem with SEC offenses can be attributed to SEC defenses. A league famous for defense is exceeding its reputation.South Carolina ranks No. 1, in the country in total defense. Kentucky ranks No. 1 in scoring defense. Vanderbilt is tied for first in pass interceptions. Eight of the nation's top 22 defenses are from the SEC.The strength of those defenses is a major reason why the SEC doesn't have a team ranked in the top 25 nationally in total offense. Contrast that with the Big 12, which has six teams in the top 12 in total offense.Injuries also have impacted SEC offenses.Florida's Cornelius Ingram, a preseason All-SEC tight end, suffered a season-ending knee injury in August. And South Carolina is playing without injured wide receiver Kenny McKinley, another All-SEC player.The loss of less-heralded players has been a factor as well.Florida senior offensive guard Jim Tartt didn't play against Miami and left the Ole Miss game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury that could end his season. His loss is magnified at a position that already had lost two reserves to injuries. Also, running back Emmanuel Moody missed most of the Ole Miss game with an ankle injury and is doubtful for Saturday's game against Arkansas.Saturday's run-in with Alabama further damaged Georgia's offense, which had lost its best offensive lineman, Trinton Sturdivant, to a season-ending knee injury in preseason. Tight end Tripp Chandler and wide receiver Kris Durham are both out for the Tennessee game (Oct. 11). Star running back Knowshon Moreno suffered an elbow injury Saturday but is expected to play against the Vols.Before the injuries against Alabama, Georgia was one of the few teams in the conference that didn't have serious problems on offense. That could change, and not just because of the injuries.In its last seven games, Georgia will play six teams that are ranked in the top 25 in total defense.(Contact John Adams at adamsj@knoxnews.com.)(John Adams is sports editor for The Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee.)